 The property was purchased by the North Lake and River Association.Judge John V. Pettit of Wabash, Indiana became president of the association with individuals from northern Indiana towns of Alexandria, Goshen, Peru, Wabash, and Huntington joining and all of which were followers of Izaac Walton which would later produce the Izaak Walton League an early environmental group.A simple oblong, two-story, gabled roof club house was constructed with 50 bedrooms and a 125-seat dining room.